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“I’m sorry,” he says as soon as we are placed in the back of the cruiser.
I remain quiet as I consider where everything went wrong in the last ten minutes. Julian checks in with me multiple times during the car ride, but my anxiety has officially taken over, and I see no end in sight.
Getting thrown in a holding cell because of a personal vendetta against Julian isn’t doing wonders for my mood. Whatever bliss I felt in the truck has long since disappeared, leaving me antsy and irritable as I pace the perimeter.
Roberts didn’t charge us with anything, although the photo he took of us in the holding cell is damning enough. I pray it doesn’t make it on the internet.
I wrap my hands around the metal bars and shout, “This is unconstitutional!”
Julian takes a seat on the most uncomfortable-looking metal bench. “Welcome to Lake Wisteria.”
I grip the bars and attempt to shake them to no avail. “Roberts! What about our right to a phone call or bail?”
No one answers my shout.
Asshole.
I press my forehead against the cold metal. “So, what? He’s going to leave us here to rot because he hates you?”
“Eh. I give him a few hours before he calls our mothers to come pick us up.”
“Our mothers?” I turn on my heels with a screech.
“I overheard him telling one of the other deputies about it while you were busy having a private conversation with yourself.” His shy smile doesn’t ease my anxiety.
My makeup might melt away from how hot my skin gets. “My mom is going to kill me when she finds out why we’re here.”
“Consider yourself lucky. Mine is going to start planning our wedding and invite the whole town.”
God help me get through tonight without ending up disowned or deceased.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
Julian
Despite my best attempts at distracting Dahlia from our current situation, I find her getting lost in her thoughts numerous times throughout the night. I hate to see her spiraling, but there isn’t a lot I can do while trapped in a jail cell.
I know she regrets admitting she is falling in love with me. Just like I know she plans on fighting me every step of the way until either she accepts the truth or I give up.
Words will only get me so far, so instead of making her a promise she won’t believe anyway, I keep quiet and hold her tight against me until Roberts returns.
The deputy takes his sweet time walking over to us, only to stop in front of the door and turn toward Dahlia. “Ben told me about the prank you had planned. Sorry I ruined it.”
The asshole doesn’t sound the least bit sorry.
“What prank is he talking about?” I ask her.
She rises from the bench and stretches her legs. “A stupid one.”
Roberts leans against the bars. “Dahlia here planned on having you thrown in the back of a cruiser and dropped off at your mother’s house with the sirens on so all the neighbors would make a fuss.”
Although my mother would have happily filmed the whole thing, I would have died of embarrassment before making it up the driveway.
He shrugs. “Too bad I ruined Strawberry Sweetheart’s plan.”
Dahlia’s cheeks flush.
“Don’t call her that,” I snap.
